And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loves gifts, and follows after rewards: they do not judge the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his place.
And will you pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?
For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.
Their heads judge for reward, and their priests teach for wages, and their prophets divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? no evil can come upon us.
And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me: and the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: concerning this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What has God wrought!
And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.